London boat show

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Do not get the point about not for uk market. Certainly those I went on were more than Ok for Uk market & I thought there was a bit more than "a few"
But to each his own

We all have those lovely Mediterranean days when we lower the transom and plunge into the warm water, under a hot sun.

Agreed we all look for different things and my wife describes the boat I lust over as a tank, but it will go anywhere.

 

[Daydream believer]

We all have those lovely Mediterranean days when we lower the transom and plunge into the warm water, under a hot sun.

Agreed we all look for different things and my wife describes the boat I lust over as a tank, but it will go anywhere.

there seems to be a big aversion on this forum against the so called "AWB"I do not know what you have but i suspect the equivalent length of "AWB" will get you there faster, in far more comfort & every bit as safely..
My new wooden long keel boat I bought in 1968 was rotten & had serious leaks & would not float come 1998 & like many others in the same class ( of circa 100 built) needed an extensive rebuild to get going again. My "AWB" will last 30 years & may not be as easy to renovate but probably the hull will last years longer.
If you look at a lot of circa 1970-1980 boats many of them have long been scrapped or are laying unwanted in yacht club hards. Specially the smaller ones.true many are still going - after much refitting- but i reckon my AWB will be better will last longer & was certainly excellent value compared with my 1968 boat- Oh & cost a lot less to run £ for £ & size for size if you take out all the gadgets that were not available in 1968

I vote for the AWB

 

[Tomaret]

With the shows in the North Hall now ended, it was very quiet today - no queuing to get on yachts or to talk to technical experts on stands. I only went because I was offered a free ticket by a friend, I was in London already and as it was only a half day I didn't feel the need to take any leave. Total investment - the tube fare and my time. At that price it was worth it for a bit of a sailing fix in midwinter.

 

[Daydream believer]

as it was only a half day I didn't feel the need to take any leave. T

Hope the boss is not a forum reader!!!!

 

[Concerto]

I went yesterday to the show. Arrived at 11 and left after closing time.

It felt larger than last year and there were certainly a lot fewer non-boating stands. So many of the people who work in the industry are really nice guys to chat with.

Spent some time discussing changing my autopilot to one to link to my plotter, but when I found the cabling needed to link them was about £120 on top of the pilot, I decided to live with my current one until it fails.

Asked several sailmakers about the hook on the genoa leach, to see how much it would cost to recut. Also checked how much new sails would cost as they are getting to the end of their life. Certainly came within my expected figures, but different fabrics can alter prices a lot.

Decided to stroll into the dark side as I was considering an inflateable dinghy as a show is the best place to compare them. After a lot of talking and nearly deciding on one I went to another stand and when I said the price (he was also a dealer for that brand but did not have them on his stand), go and buy it as he could not match it and the ones he had on his stand were not as suited for my needs. I did go return and buy an outboard from him as the other dealer said that was a very keen price. So everyone won, but best of all I then chatted to the dinghy manufacturer's salesman and he explained this particular design was better built than the latest model as it had welded seams rather than glued seams - and that made me feel even better.

Then back to the chandlery area for a few bits and pieces. As I was walking out, I stopped and bought a boys toy. A quadcopter drone with a HD video camera for £100. Should be great fun getting some video either at anchor or whilst sailing, just need a lot of practice first.

Overall I enjoyed the show, despite not looking at any boats. I felt the general layout was better as the engine section as closer to the sailing boats. For a Monday it was better attended than I expected. The yacht and chanderly section was far busier than the dark side, but the people I spoke to all seemed reasonably happy with the attendance and sales so far. I have another ticket, but am not sure if I have the time or need to return for a second visit. Just depends on how tempting the offer of new sails is.

 

[alant]

Got there before opening time left at closing time still did not see everything
Missed Ben Ainsle which was a pity
Note the comment earlier post about raymarine but as a result i had a good chat about autopilots & although i had already got an ST 2000 ended up buying the Evolution from Mainsprite. on that stand I mentioned that the AIS interface on the plotter they sold me last year was not excellent & they said they had similar comments from professional users so had a software upgrade done by Lorenze. As i was having autopilot I could have the upgrade for my plotter installed for free. ( Discount on autopilot was excellent as well)
I got deals on everything from Reeds £35-00 to Dubarries less 10%. When i went to buy a book from sam llewelyn he had gone for lunch so Tom Cunliff signed it PP sam llewelyn.!!!! Got a deal on a Musto fleece. Was going to get 6 Anodes for my Brunton prop but due to heavy weight decided to get later but was told that they would still do a deal if ordered in next 2 weeks.Got a deal on a holdall. The wife got £ 40-00 knocked off a jacket & I think that if I pushed hard enough Jeneau would give me a decent deal on a 34. They reduced the price by £12K in the preliminary discussion. Now getting very tempting!!!
Have to admit that even though i am an avid Hanse owner jeneau's 34 was much better than the Hanse version for stowage & saloon layout. Dunno about performance though

In fact every stand would give a discount on anything if you ask. Bit busy mid day but soon died down & i later realised I missed bits
Surprisingly enjoyable

Ain't he on unymoon, getting shipwrecked on Neckar Island?

 

[laika]

Well I'm here today. Not sure exactly what's with that entrance. It's some water dripping down. I went through it rather than go around like everyone else wondering what would happen. I got dripped on. That's it. WTF?

Turn the wrong way through the entrance and one half of the single hall (i.e. same size as last year, half the size of previous years) is nothing but motorboats and RIBs with the occasional land rover thrown in. "everything else" is the other half. A few AWBs with the moody 41 about as exotic as it gets. The moody was nice enough but frankly prefer my ocean lord: People complain about centre cockpits being small but I can lay down in my cockpit which I couldn't in the moody. No navico so anyone looking to browse B&G/Simrad stuff is SOL and I'm having trouble finding someone selling lewmar winches.

It does feel better than last year: The rows seem a bit closer together, slightly fewer non-boaty stalls, more discount clothing etc. on offer, but if you're not interested in mobos and RIBs the show is essentially half of one hall which is maybe about 1/3 the size of a few years ago as enginee, equipment etc. used to be spread over the motor and sail halls. Before last year I used to spend two days here. Once is now ample.

Not too many people to cause long waits for questions but not so few that you were stumbling over tumbleweeds, so quite nice really.

Cheapest Reeds 2015 seemed to be marine superstore (£31.99?)

 

[GrahamP]

Wanted :- Has anyone got a spare ticket for the boat show please?

Offered :- I live in East Dulwich and have a spare room. Send a pm if you have a distance to travel and prefer to stay overnight.


Regards,

Graham

 

[Toutvabien]

I spent about five hours at the show on Sunday and quite enjoyed it which was a contrast to recent years, I went just to have a mooch and check out a few bits that we will be buying this year. Had some interesting issues resolved and came away feeling quite satisfied. It is though a lot smaller than in previous years and several stands seemed much reduced in scale.

As I went with relatively low expectations I was content, in years gone by I have spent a couple of days and lots of money at the boat show, I would struggle to do that now, after a couple of days I suspect that you would be invited to join the organizing committee.

 

[Yngmar]

I went yesterday (Monday), one of the quieter days (a good thing, in my book). This was my first time, so I have nothing to compare to, but I felt it was a day well spent. I got to climb all over the sailboats I was interested in, including a rare chance to see a trimaran up close and a fairly crowded Nautitech 40 cat. Skipped the motorboats, had a go at the power grinding challenge (terrible idea in a hall heated to 27°C) and attended a RYA sea survival workshop. Bought a few things, got a piece of fake teak to experiment upon, tried on some lifejackets (one chandlery had brought in people from Crewsaver and Spinlock to ask questions, which was great) and was mightily impressed by a superglue demonstration.

Salesmen were accommodating and friendly[1], had a few good chats. I've so far only had an eye on the used boat market, because that's what I can afford and because nobody seems to make deck saloons or center cockpits with big aft cabins anymore, and so I was a bit surprised at the cheap looks and lack of distinguishing features on most of the current production boats. It seems to be a race for who can make the cheapest boat and not much else. Thin veneer, bare plastic interiors (no headliners), poor storage and lose cabin soles and on deck impractical plastic covers rendering the lines invisible and inaccessible. The Dehler had a groove in the cockpit floor for the traveller, which I thought was a good idea until I opened the cover and saw it was draining right into the exposed steering quadrant. Only the Legend (Hunter) yachts seemed to be built with a different philosophy (which also reflected in the price of course).

I had some questions about the durability of the Porta-bote and was promptly invited to step in and stomp around the thing, then given some sawn out hull pieces/joints for me to try and break. Must say, my doubts about the sturdiness of those things are removed. I want one.

Oh, and the ExCel centre has movable partition walls - so technically it's always "one hall". Counting the entrances, it seemed to cover at least two partitions though and judging by how much my feet hurt at the end of the day, it was definitely large enough. Also, bring a sammich and water bottle. The food on site is both terrible and overpriced even by London standards. Don't waste your time queuing for the "4D experience". The water show at the entrance seemed faulty and some guys were mopping it up constantly.

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yur5tco76voijsd/AACJkC5enkDpI9qv_9kEL_3La?dl=0

[1] With one exception, where a lady with a french accent was somewhat piqued about me taking pictures of her showboat. I asked her what the problem was, surely the boat was here to be seen? At that point she harrumphed and left me alone.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Went today . Quiet , but only £10 for ancient mariners when booked the day before.

Biggest shocks.
1. Salesman do not seem to wear after shave anymore. Either about 1/2 a litre of the stuff is no longer issued to them for the 9 days or no one gives it to them at xmas anymore. I did notice however that the great smell of Guinness was much more noticeable.

2. The number of motorboats on show. How do they all survive ?

I really enjoyed it but the wife and I really treat it as a day out without getting too cold or wet in January.

Best Buy

Two plastic slabs for £10 that enable you to stick phones and VHF's on bulkheads without glue. Passed the test well on motorway services vertical walls on the way home.

 

[laika]

nobody seems to make deck saloons or center cockpits with big aft cabins anymore

The Jeanneau sun Odyssey 41 DS seemed to do 2 out of 3 there (not CC). Much as I prefer my boat's different 2 out of 3 (not deck saloon) for my purposes I wouldn't say no to the Jeanneau for a couple of weeks' charter somewhere nice.

Oh yes and the "4D experience". Another "WTF?". Some images projected on the inside of a tent with the "4th dimension" being a fan in floor. SRSLY??

 

[Yngmar]

The Jeanneau sun Odyssey 41 DS seemed to do 2 out of 3 there (not CC).

Whilst that was one of the less awful examples, I don't think it qualifies as a deck saloon (despite tacking on the two letters). The salon is barely raised and there are no forward looking windows. The 43 DS from not so long ago did this better:

View attachment 48496

Oh yes and the "4D experience". Another "WTF?". Some images projected on the inside of a tent with the "4th dimension" being a fan in floor. SRSLY??

I think it also had some feeble disco fog coming up from below. Meh.

 

[Daydream believer]

Thin veneer, .

So how thick were the veneers & how thick do you think that they should be?

 

[Coaster]

...and the ExCel centre has movable partition walls - so technically it's always "one hall"...

When we went to LIBS, over a few years, there were north and south halls separated by a central concourse. I understood that the boat show is now restricted to the south hall.

Perhaps someone that's been this year and also knew the boat show when it first moved to Excel can enlighten us.

 

[Budgieboy]

Went on the opening day .... looked at the water feature and told my mate it was dry water !! .... he went straight under it ....... we laughed our arses off !!! ..... good day out though .....:encouragement:

 

[laika]

When we went to LIBS, over a few years, there were north and south halls separated by a central concourse. I understood that the boat show is now restricted to the south hall.

Perhaps someone that's been this year and also knew the boat show when it first moved to Excel can enlighten us.

See my post #47. As you say, used to be sail in one hall, power in the other, "accessories" divided between (engines with power, ropes etc. with sail). Now it's just the south hall. One half is motorboats and RIBs (and landrovers). The other is everything else, including some, but not many, sailing boats. Similar to last year but I *think* quite a few more motorboats and the rows feel closer together than last year's dire offering.